MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – It did not take long for the Saint Leo volleyball program to pick up the first win under first year head coach Jason Skoch as the Lions went 1-1 on the opening day of the Barry University Classic.
 
Saint Leo opened the day against Minnesota State Mankato and nearly pulled off a come-from-behind victory but fell to the Mavericks 3-2 in five sets. The Lions would roar back in the late afternoon match-up with East Stroudsburg out of Pennsylvania winning 3-0 in convincing fashion.
 
Senior rightside hitter Victoria Omoregie led the way against the Warriors as she put down 11 kills on 24 attacks without committing an error. The Tampa, Fla. native posted a .458 hitting percentage and also chipped in a block assist. Redshirt junior Anna Garrett returned to her starting setter position after missing all of last season due to injury and posted 29 assists and seven digs in the victory.
 
Sophomore Payton Bellano stepped into the starting libero role left opener by departing senior Reggie Van Devender. Bellano dug up 22 balls while adding a service ace in the win. Freshman Skylar Singleton, who is a setter by trade, took the court as a serving specialist and notched three aces in her first career victory. Senior defensive specialist Fabiola Rosado added three service aces as well and dug up 12 balls.
 
The Lions cruised to the victory 25-20, 25-21 and 25-16 while hitting .202 as a team.
 
In the opening match of the season against Minnesota State the Lions fell behind 2-0 early before winning the third and fourth sets to tie the match. The Mavericks took control in the fifth and won 15-11.
 
The Lions hit .309 as a team in the match but that average dropped to .105 in the deciding fifth set.
 
Three Lions reached double-digit kills in the loss as senior Nina Vattovaz tallied a team-high 19 kills. Senior Anilise Fitzi and junior Ashley Quero added 13 and 10 kills, respectively. Garrett notched 48 assists over the five sets and had seven digs. Bellano dug up 17 balls while adding a team-high three service aces.
 
Saint Leo will not have much time to celebrate its first win of the season as the Lions return to the court tomorrow against a pair of 2018 NCAA Tournament partcipants including a national quarterfinalist. The opening serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. versus Saint Anselm.   
 
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